Valve apparatus



March 21, 1961 H. ALLEN 2,975,795

VALVE APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY;

March 21, 1961 H. ALLEN 7 2,975,795

VALVE APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J4 4 Z9 j/ w I J4 Ti l- 3? INVENTOR. 62

BY 25 57 M ATTO/Q/VEKS March 21, 1961 Filed Dec. 2, 1957 H. ALLEN 2,975,795

VALVE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 24 35 //e/be/"/ /4//e/7 5/ a INVENTOR. 4 2/ BY W I ATTOR/VEVJ March 21, 1961 ALLEN 2,975,795

VALVE APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 39a 9 3.2 z7 2d Iii Herbs/f /4//e/7 |k INVENTOR. Wm

A 770/?NE m VALVE APPARATUS Herbert Allen, Houston, Tex, assignor to Cameron Iron Works, Inc., Houston, Tex.

Filed Dec. 2, 1957, Ser. No. 700,203

15 Claims. (Cl. 137-315) This invention relates broadly to valve apparatus and, more particularly, to improvements in that type of valve apparatus, such as a blowout preventer, in which a heavy replaceable ram is closely fitted between a carrier therefor and an opening in a body in which the carrier and ram are reciprocable.

The close fit of the ram and carrier in the preventer body opening makes it particularly difficult to remove the rams when the resilient packing thereof is to be replaced or the ram bodies are to be changed to fit about different sizes of pipe. Even when the ram is removed from its opening, there is a further problem of separating it from its carrier due to the close fit, and frequently corrosion, between their adjacent surfaces.

An object of this invention is to provide such apparatus in which the power for operating the carrier may be employed to relieve the close fit of the ram with respect to the preventer body opening and the carrier so as to facilitate its removal from the body opening as well as subsequent separation from the carrier.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the type described in the foregoing object in which such power may also be employed to move the outer end of the relieved ram to a position which facilitates its removal from such opening.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of a blowout preventer or like valve apparatus which comprises a body having a flowway therethrough and an opening therein connecting the flowway with the exterior of the body, a carrier within the opening, and means for reciprocating the carrier longitudinally within the opening. A ram is fitted closely between the carrier and opening, and means are provided for selectively locking the ram to the carrier for reciprocation inwardly and outwardly therewith between fiowway closing and opening positions, respectively, and to the body to permit movement of said carrier inwardly with respect to the ram to a position relieving the close fit of the ram. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this relief is enhanced by adjacent surfaces on the ram and carrier which are tapered divergently outwardly of the adjacent surfaces on the ram and body opening.

More particularly, the carrier is provided with a shoulder engageable with a part on the ram, when said carrier is moved outwardly from its inward position, to move the outer end of the relieved ram outwardly of the position it occupies when locked to the body, and preferably to a position out of said opening. It will be understood, particularly in view of the more detailed description to follow, that the ram is more readily removable and replaceable in this latter position.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which is of simplified construction and otherwise especially well suited for accomplishing each of the fore going objects.

This latter object is accomplished by apparatus of the type above described in which the locking means comprises a slot in each of the body opening and carrier, and

States Patent a key on the ram which is selectively manipulatable into locking positions within one or the outer of said slots. With this construction, the aforementioned part on the ram which is engageable by a shoulder on the carrier is provided by the key when the latter is positioned for locking within the carrier slot. Thus, when the ram is locked to the valve body and the carrier has been moved inwardly with respect thereto, the key is manipulated to carrier locking position for engagement by the shoulder on the carrier as it is moved outwardly. Outward movement of the carrier thus moves the outer end of the relieved ram outwardly to a position facilitating its removal, and preferably outwardly of the body opening.

When the ram has been removed from the body opening, the carrier may be moved further outwardly to a position in which the slot therein is disposed outwardly of said opening. Then the inner end of another ram may be inserted between the opening and carrier, and the key thereof manipulated into locking position within the carrier slot so that the second ram is movable with the carrier into flowway opening position within the body opening.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide apparatus having locking means of the character above described which is so constructed and arranged as to insure that the second ram is locked to the carrier for reciprocation therewith before such apparatus is again placed in normal operation.

For this purpose, the apparatus includes a bonnet movable between positions opening and closing the outer end of the body opening, and an actuator for the key which is received within the ram for operative engagement with the key to manipulate it between its alternate positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the actuator extends through the open outer end of the body opening to prevent closure of the bonnet, when it is operatively engaged with the ram and said ram is disposed in flowway opening position, and is removable from operative engagement with said ram to permit closure of the bonnet only when the actuator is disposed to position the key within the carrier slot. In another embodiment of the invention, the actuator is fixedly received within the ram and the actuator and inside of the bonnet are so constructed as to prevent closure of the bonnet, when the ram is disposed in fiowway opening position, except when the actuator is disposed to position the key within the carrier slot.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the means for reciprocating the carrier comprises a rack on the carrier, a shaft rotatably mounted within the body, and a pinion gear on the shaft engageable with the rack. Inasmuch as the ram is separate from the carrier, the rack need not be disengaged from the pinion gear during changing of the ram. Obviously, this is of advantage since it obviates the problem of re-engaging the rack and gear so as to insure reciprocation of the ram within proper limits. More particularly, the body opening is provided with longitudinal guideways therein, and lateral flanges on each side of the carrier are received within the guideways to maintain the carrier rack in engagement preventer, it is so shown in the illustrative embodiment to be described below. However, it is contemplated that such valve apparatus may also be used in more conventional types of valve apparatus having a single valve member.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used throughout to designate like parts:

Fig. 1A is a side view of a blowout preventer constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the operator for the ram carriers-thereof shown in section and positioned to dispose the carriers and rams in flowway closing position;

Fig. 1B is a view similar to Fig. 1A, but with the operator positioned to dispose the carriers and rams in flowway opening position;

Fig. 1C is another view similar to Fig. 1A, but with the operator positioned to dispose the outer ends of the carriers outwardly of the body openings for receiving replacement rams;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of one side of the preventer, with the ram thereof locked to the carrier and engaged about a pipe in the flowway closing position of Fig. 1A;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the preventer, taken substantially along broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the external splined end of the operating shaft in position for connection with the operator shown in Figs. 1A to 1C;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but in which the ram has been retracted by the carrier to the flowway opening position of Fig. 13;

Fig. 5 is also a similar view, but wherein the bonnet for closing the outer end of the body opening has been moved to an open position and a removable actuator has been inserted through the outer end of the ram for operative connection with its key;

Fig. 6 is still another similar view, but in which the actuator has been manipulated to dispose the key in a position locked within the slot of the body and the carrier has been moved inwardly with respect to the rain to relieve the close fit of same;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but in which the actuator has been manipulated to dispose the key in the position it occupies when locked within the carrier slot so that a part thereof is positioned for engagement by the rear end of the carrier when the carrier is moved outwardly;

Fig. 8 is a further similar view in which the carrier has been moved outwardly so as to move the relieved ram therewith to a position in which its outer end is disposed outwardly of the valve body opening to facilitate its removal;

Fig. 9 is a still further similar view in which the first ram has been removed, the carrier moved outwardly to the position of Fig. 1C in which its slot is disposed outwardly of the outer end of the body opening, and a second ram mounted upon and locked to the carrier;

Fig. 10 is yet a further similar view, but wherein the valve member has been moved inwardly with the carrier to its flowway opening position within the body opening;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, but in which the actuator has been removed from the outer end of the ram and operative engagement with the key so that the bonnet may be moved to a position closing the outer end of the opening;

Fig. 12 is a view of another embodiment of the invention with the ram thereof in flowway opening position corresponding to the position of the ram of the first described embodiment shown in Fig. 4;. and

Fig. 13 is a detailed sectional view of the Fig. 12 embodiment, taken substantially along broken line 1313, and showing the disposal of the actuator within a recess in the closed bonnet.

As shown in each of Figs. 1A to 1C, .which will be referred to in more detail hereinafter, the blowout preventer comprises a body 29 having flanges at its upper and lower ends for connection with other wellhead members (not shown). As indicated in Figs. 2 to 11, this body has a flowway 21 extending vertically therethrough and laterally extending openings 22 therein connecting opposite sides of the flowway with the exterior of the body at opposite ends thereof. As well known in the art, when the preventer body is connected as above described, its flowway forms a continuation of the flowway through the adjacent wellhead members.

A carrier 23 within each opening 22 is provided with a rack 24 on its lower side, and a pinion gear 25 is carried upon a shaft rotatably mounted within the body for engagement with the rack 24 to reciprocate the carrier 23 longitudinally within the opening 22. A ram 27 is fitted closely between the opening and the upper side of the carrier, and is provided with seal means including a strip 28 extending across its inner face for sealing about the pipe P within the flowway 21 (see Fig. 2) as well as with a corresponding strip on a ram in the opposite opening, and another strip 29 extending from the opposite ends of the strip 28 along the sides and across the top of the ram for sealing engagement with the opening. Thus, as is well-known in the case of blowout preventers, when the oppositely disposed rams are moved inwardly into the position of Fig. 2, they will close off the annular space about the pipe P. On the other hand, when the valve means are retracted or moved outwardly to the position of Fig. 4, a full opening is provided through the flowway.

As can be seen from the drawings, and as will be explained more fully hereinafter, the rear or outer end of the ram 27 is exposed to well pressure. This pressure is contained by means of a bonnet 3t} removaby connected over the outer end of the opening by bolts 31 or the like. Thus, as will be apparent from Fig. 2, well pressure provides a force which assists the operator in maintaining the ram closed.

The close fit of the ram 27 between the opening 22 and upper surface of the carrier 23 is necessary to guide it during its reciprocation with the carrier and also enable a seal to be established between the sealing strip 29 and the opening 22. As previously mentioned, however, this close fit makes it extremely difiicult to remove the ram from the opening. Furthermore, and as also previously mentioned, the ram frequently becomes stuck to the carrier so as to make their separation diflicult, even when the ram and carrier have been removed.

In accordance with the present invention, however, each of the body opening 22 and carrier 23 are provided with slots 32 and 33 therein, respectively, and a key 34 is carried on the ram for selective manipulation into locking positions within one or the other of said slots. Thus, when the key 34 is manipulated into locking position within the carrier slot 33, as shown in each of Figs. 2 and 4, the ram will be reciprocated inwardly and outwardly with the carrier between flowway closing and opening positions, respectively. On the other hand, when the key 34 is locked within the slot 32, as shown in Fig. 6, the carrier is movable inwardly with respect to the ram.

When the carrier is so moved, there will be less surface contact between the ram and carrier so as to relieve the close fit of the ram at least to some extent. This relief is further enhanced by the tapering of the lower side 35 of the ram adjacent the upper side of the carrier 23 in a direction divergently outwardly of the upper surface of such ram adjacent the roof of the body opening 22. A somewhat similar affect might be obtained by stepped surfaces on the ram and carrier.

With the ram disposed in the position shown in Fig. 6, and upon manipulation of the key 34 into its position for locking in the carrier slot, as shown in Fig. 7, the ram may be pulled outwardly of the body opening for repair or replacement, as desired. That is, upon removal of the first ram, a second ram, with its key disposed in carrier locking position, may be inserted between the body opening and carrier to a position in which its key is opposite the slot 32. Then, upon manipulation of the key to dispose it in locked position within the slot 32, the

carrier 23 may be moved outwardly to a position in which its slot 33 is disposed beneath the key 34, and the key then again manipulated so as to dispose it in locking position within the slot 33, as shown in Fig. 6. The second ram is then locked to the carrier for reciprocation therewith between flowway opening and closing positions.

In accordance with another novel aspect of the present invention, however, the outer end of the carrier 23 comprises a shoulder 23a which is engageable with the inner side of that portion of the key 34 which extends beneath the lower side of the ram in its carrier locking position, so that the carrier may be moved outwardly to force the outer end of the ram out of opening 22, as shown in Figs. 1C and 8. If the first ram is removed at this stage, the second ram is inserted between the body opening and carrier, as shown in Fig. 8, and moved with the carrier to a position disposing the key 34 opposite the slot 32, whereby the key 34 may be manipulated into a position locked within the slot 32. Inasmuch as this locking of the ram to the body prevents movement of the former with the carrier, the carrier may at this time be moved outwardly so as to dispose its slot 33 beneath the key, which may then be manipulated into a position locked within the slot 33. At this time, the second ram is locked to the carrier for reciprocation therewith between fiowway opening and closing positions.

However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that, upon movement of the ram into the position of Fig. 8 and its removal from between the opening and carrier, the carrier may be further moved outwardly to the position of Fig. 9 to dispose its slot 33 outwardly of the body opening. A second ram, with its key disposed in body locking position, may then be inserted between the opening and carrier so as to dispose its key opposite the exposed carrier slot 33. Upon manipulation of the key to lock it within said slot 33, the second ram is movable with the carrier into flowway opening position, as shown in Fig. 10.

As shown in the Figs. 2 to 11 embodiment of the invention, the key 34 comprises a substantially rectangular plate which is confined for sliding within an opening 34a in the ram. The opening 34a is intersected by another opening 36 extending to the rear or outer end of the ram to receive the inner end of an actuator 37 extending through the open outer end of the body opening 22. This.

actuator is provided with an eccentrically mounted pin 38 on its inner end which is removably fitted within a laterally extending slot 39 in the key (see Fig. 3) so that the key is manipulated between its alternate locking positions by rotation of the actuator 180. For this purpose, the outer end of the actuator is provided with a suitable handle 39a.

As is apparent fromthe drawings, the construction of the handle 39a is such as to prevent movement ,of the ram into closed position when the actuator is still connected thereto. Also, the actuator is of such length that when the carrier and the second ram are moved inwardly to the flowway opening position of Fig. 10, the bonnet 30 cannot be closed. Thus, the preventer is not ready for use in closing the flowway until the actuators 37 have been removed from each ram and through the open outer end of each opening 22.

An intermediate portion of the actuator 37 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 40 which is received, during rotation of the actuator, within an annular slot 41 formed in the opening 36. More particularly, the projection 40 is moved into the annular recess 41 through a longitudinally extending slot 42 in said opening which is so arranged about said recess as to permit insertion or removal of the actuator only when the key 34 is disposed in position for locking within the carrier slot 33 (see Fig. 5, for example). Thus, when the actuator is removed from operative engagement with the key to permit closing 6 of the bonnet, this construction insures that the ram is locked to the carrier.

As can be seen from Figs. 12 and 13, the other embodiment of the invention diifers from that above described only in the construction of the actuator for the key 34 and the bonnet for closing body opening 22. Thus, in this additional embodiment of the invention, the inner end of an actuator 43 extends through an opening 43a through the outer end of the ram and is fixedly maintained therein by an enlargement 44 about an intermediate portion thereof which is rotatably received between a confining slot 45 formed in the opening 43a. As in the case of the embodiment above described, the actuator 43 is provided with an eccentrically mounted pin 46 on its inner end which is fitted within a slot in the key and is rotatable by means of a handle 47 on the outer end thereof for manipulating the key between its alternate locking positions.

As can be seen from-Figs. 12 and 13, the inner side of a removable bonnet 48 for closing the outer end of the body opening 22 is recessed at 49 to receive the handle 47 when the bonnet is closed and the ram is disposed in the fiowway opening position of Fig. 11. More particularly, and as best shown in Fig. 13, the recess 49 is so formed as to receive the handle 47 only when the actuator 43 is in position to dispose the key 34 within the carrier recess 33. As in the case of the embodiment above described, this construction prevents the closing of the bonnet, with the ram disposed in fiowway opening position, when such ram is not locked to the carrier.

The lower surface of the ram 27 adjacent the upper side of the carrier 23 is formed along a relieved portion thereof so as to accommodate the carrier and the upper part of the pinion 25 engageable therewith between side portions 50 of the ram. As shown in Fig. 2, these side portions fit closely within the body' opening and are spaced from upstanding rims 51 on the body so asto form a downwardly and inwardly tapered passage 51a therebetween connecting the flowway with the outer end of the body.

As previously described, and as will now be more apparent, the rams may be replaced separately of the carriers so that the rack 24 on each carrier need not be disengaged from its pinion gear 25. Also, the inner surfaces of the rims 51 are provided with guideways 52 extending longitudinally thereof to receive lateral flanges 53 on the carrier. This prevents upward displacement of the rack teeth from those of the pinion gear during replacement of the rams.

As shown in each of Figs. 1A to 10, the operator for the carriers comprises a cylinder 65 pivotally connected at one end to a crank arm 66 on the external end of the shaft 26 (see Fig. 3), and a piston 67 sealably slidable within the cylinder and having a rod 68 pivotally connected at its outer end to another crank arm 69 on the external end of the other shaft 26. Ports 70 and 71 in the cylinder permit the introduction and exhaust of hydraulic fluid from any suitable source to opposite sides of the piston 67 for moving it in alternate directions toretract and extend the piston rod 68, as desired. Upon extension of the rod, as shown in Figs. 1B and 10, the carrier is moved to positions for disposing the ram in fiowway opening position and outwardly of the outer end of the opening 22 for receiving a second ram. On the other hand, the piston rod is retractable, as shown in Fig, 1A, to position the carrier for disposing the rams in fiowway closing position.

When the ram is locked to the carrier, the movement of the carrier inwardly is limited bythe engagement of the rams about the pipe P and with one another. However, this is not true when, as shown in Fig. 6, the carrier is moved inwardly with respect to the ram. In order to prevent movement of the teeth on the rack 24 of such carrier out of engagement with the teeth on the pinion 25, the piston 67 is so arranged as to abut with one end of the cylinder 65, as shown in Fig. 1A, when the carrier reaches approximately the position of Fig. 6.

When the bonnet 35 is closed, its inner surface provides an abutment for the outer end of the carrier such that outward movement of the carrier is limited, as shown, for example, in Fig. 4. When the cover is moved to an open position such that it no longer limits outward movement of the carrier, the piston 67 is arranged to abut with the opposite end of the cylinder 65, as shown in Fig. 1C, when the carrier reaches approximately the position shown in Fig. 9. As can be seen from Fig, 9, the teeth on the rack 24 are, at this time, still engaged with the teeth on the pinion gear 25.

The pinion gear is removably connected to the shaft 26 by means of a spline 54 for rotation within the space defined between the rims 51 and a lower recess 55 in the valve body. As shown in Fig. 2, the opposite ends of the shaft 26 are journaled within bearings 56 and 57 fixed against rotation within openings through the valve body by means of pins 58 or the like. Each such bearing is held against an outwardly facing shoulder on the valve body opening by means of packing 59, a gland 60 and a cover 61 removably connected to the valve body by bolts 62.

The aforementioned exterior end of each shaft 26 is connected to one of the crank arms of the operator by means of splines 63. Each of the splines 54 and 63 is smaller than the shaft so as to enable removal and insertion of the shaft as well as the bearings, packings and glands in an obvious manner.

To summarize the preferred operation of the abovedescribed apparatus, and with the rams of the Figs. 2 to 11 embodiment in the fiowway closing position of Fig. 2, the operator is actuated to rotate the pinion gears 25 in a direction to move the carriers and rams outwardly to the fiowway opening position shown in Fig. 4. At this time, the bonnets 30 are moved to their open position and an actuator 37 is inserted into operative engagement with the key 34 of a ram to be replaced, as shown in Fig. 5. Upon a 180 rotation of the actuator, the key is manipulated upwardly from locking position within the carrier slot 33 to locking position Within the slot 32, whereby the carrier 24 is freed for movement inwardly with respect to the ram. This inward movement of the carrier is accomplished by rotation of the shaft and gear in an opposite direction and serves to relieve the close fit of the ram between the body opening 22 and the upper side of the carrier, particularly in view of the tapered surface of the ram and the carrier.

More particularly, the carrier 23 is moved inwardly so as to dispose the shoulder 23a formed upon its outer end in a position, as shown in Fig. 6, to engage the inner surface of the key 34 when it is manipulated into the position it occupies in looking within the carrier slot, as shown in Fig. 7. As previously described, the abutment of the piston with one end of the cylinder of the operator prevents disengagement of the carrier rack from the pinion gear. The operator is then actuated to reverse the rotation of the shaft 26 to move the carrier and the ram which is engaged thereby from the position of' Fig. 7 outwardly to the position of Fig. 8. In this latter position, the outer end of the ram is disposed outwardly of the body opening 22 so as to facilitate the removal of the remainder thereof from between the opening and carrier.

Upon removal of the ram from the position of Fig, 8, the carrier is moved further outwardly to a position in which its slot 33 is disposed outwardly of the body opening. As previously described, the abutment of the piston of the operator with the opposite end of the cylinder prevents the carrier from disengagement with its pinion gear during this phase of carrier movement. The key 34 of the second ram, which replaces the ram just removed, is manipulated by its actuator 37 into the position it occupies for locking within the body slot 32, so that the 22 inner end of the second ram may be moved into position between the opening and the carrier. The actuator 37 is then rotated 180 so as to manipulate the key 34 of the second ram into a position locking within the carrier slot 33, as shown in Fig. 9. At this time, the operator may be actuated to move the carrier and ram inwardly to flowway opening position of the valve memher, as shown in Fig. 10. At this time, or prior thereto, the actuator 37 may be removed from operative engagement with the key 34 as illustrated in Fig. 11.

As previously explained, however, due to the location of the slot 42, the actuator may be removed only when the key 34 is locked within the carrier slot 33. Thus, the bonnet 30 will be moved to closed position and the ram 27 moved from its fiowway opening into its flowway closing position only when the ram is locked to the carrier. This same purpose is accomplished in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 12 and 13 due to the cooperation between recess 49 in the bonnet 48 and the handle 47 on the actuator 43.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the -invention without departing from the scope thereof, it

is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed 1. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus, comprising a body having a fiowway therethrough and an opening therein connecting the flowway with the exterior of the body, a carrier within the opening, means for recip rocating the carrier longitudinally within the opening, a ram fitted closely between the carrier and a surface of the opening, and means for selectively locking the ram to the carrier for reciprocation inwardly and outwardly therewith with respect to the tiowway between positions closing and opening the fiowway, respectively, and to the body to permit movement of said carrier inwardly with respect to the ram to a position relieving the close fit of the ram, whereby the outer end of the ram may be moved outwardly of the position in which it is locked to the body.

2. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein the adjacent surfaces of the ram and carrier are tapered divergently outwardly of the adjacent surfaces of the ram and opening.

3. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a slot in each of the body opening and carrier, and a key on the ram selectively manipulatable between locking positions within one or the other of said slots.

4. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 3, including a bonnet movable between positions opening and closing the outer end of the opening, and wherein said locking means also includes an actuator removably extendablc through the open outer end of the opening and the ram for operative engagement with the key to manipulate it between its alternate positions.

5. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 4, wherein the actuator includes a part which prevents closure of the bonnet when said ram is disposed in flowway opening position, and including means permitting removal of said actuator from operative engagement with the key and through the open outer end of the opening and the ram only when the actuator is disposed to position the key within the carrier slot.

6. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 3, including an actuator fixedly received within the ram for operative engagement with the key to manipulate it between its alternate positions, and a bonnet for closing the outer end of the body opening and movable to an open position to permit manipulation of the actuator.

7. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 6, wherein the actuator has a part which prevents closure of the bonnet, when said ram is disposed in fiowway opening position, except when said actuator is disposed to position the key within the carrier slot.

8. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus, comprising a body having a fiowway therethrough and an opening therein connecting the fiowway with the exterior of the body, a carrier within the opening, means for reciprocating the carrier longitudinally within the opening, a ram fitted closely between the carrier and a surface of the opening, means for selectively locking the ram to the carrier for reciprocation inwardly and outwardly therewith with respect to the fiowway between positions closing and opening the fiowway, respectively, and to the body to permit movement of the carrier inwardly with respect to the ram to a position relieving the close fit of the ram, and a shoulder on said carrier engageable with a part on the ram when said carrier is moved outwardly from its inward position to move the outer end of the relieved ram outwardly of the position in which it is locked to the valve body.

9. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 8, wherein said locking means comprises a slot in each of the body opening and carrier, and a key on the ram selectively manipulatable between locking positions Within one or the other of said slots.

10. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, wherein said part on the ram is formed by said key when positioned for locking Within the carrier'slot.

11. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, wherein said carrier is n1ov able outwardly to a position in which its slot is disposed out of said opening to receive the key of a new ram.

12. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, including a bonnet movable between positions opening and closing the outer end of the opening, and an actuator extendable through the open outer end of the opening and the ram for operative engagement with the key to manipulate it between its alternate positions.

13. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 12, wherein the actuator has a part which prevents closure of the bonnet when said ram is disposed in fiowway opening position, and including means permitting removal of said actuator from operative engagement with the key and through the open outer end of the opening andram only when the actuator is disposed to position the key within the carrier slot.

14. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 9, including an actuator fixedly received within the valve member for operative engagement with the key to manipulate it between its alternate positions, and a bonnet for closing the outer end of the body opening and movable to an open position to permit manipulation of the actuator.

15. A blowout preventer or like valve apparatus of the character defined in claim 12, wherein the actuator has a part which prevents closure of the bonnet, when said ram is disposed in flowway opening position, except when said References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ruth July 18, 1911 Neilan July 29, 1952 

